“It’s the General!” Marcus called.
Kyrin gasped. No!
Lydia ran to the house. “Stay inside,” she told Michael and Ronny. The two boys stood in the doorway, their eyes wide.
Kyrin raced to meet her brothers and Jace.
Marcus handed over her quiver and weapons. “We need to get out of here now.”
Kyrin pulled her bow free and slung her quiver over her shoulder as they ran toward the trees. Where was Kaden? What if they had him? She couldn’t hesitate. They just needed to run. The pounding hooves grew louder. In the next moment, the General’s voice thundered out.
“Stop right there!”
It was hopeless. They couldn’t outrun the riders any more than they had been able to outrun Marcus’s men. Skidding to a stop at the edge of the forest, they turned to face the General. He and his twenty men reined to a halt, with a few yards separating them. Kyrin reached back for an arrow. She would not be taken easily this time. Before anyone could make a move, Marcus stepped to the front with his sword drawn.
The General glared at him. “I never would’ve believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. What have you done?”
Marcus drew a breath, but his grandfather didn’t give him a chance to speak.
“I’d expect such foolishness from Liam, but never from you. Have you gone mad? You’re on the verge of throwing away everything. Years of training wasted, opportunities thrown to the wind . . .”
Marcus shook his head. “Stop.”
The General didn’t even hear him, continuing the list, but Marcus’s voice rose up with force and authority. “Stop!”
The General fell silent and gaped at his grandson.
Marcus breathed harder, but kept his voice even and controlled. “No amount of training, or opportunities, or prestige is worth losing another member of my family.”
“Your father was a fool, and it got him killed. If Kyrin and Kaden insist on following him, then they can reap the consequences, but I’ll be dead before I see you throw your life away. Now, stand aside. Liam, too, if he knows what’s good for him. Kyrin and the ryrik are traitors, and they’ll answer for it.”
Marcus remained firmly rooted where he was and took his sword in both hands. “If you want them, you’ll have to come through me.”
“This-this is madness!” the General sputtered. “I raised you better than this. What’s wrong with you? What are you thinking?”
“I’m protecting my family. Now that my father is gone, I realize that job has fallen to me.”
The General gave a disgusted snort. “Protecting them from what? The consequences of their own actions?”
“Protecting them from you,” Marcus declared, “and the emperor.”
The General scowled. “Don’t you see what’s happening? You’re letting their situation and your own emotions blind you.”
Marcus shook his head. “No, I was blind before, but now I’m starting to see things very clearly. It took me until now to realize . . . you are wrong. You have always been wrong. And my greatest regret is that I realized it too late to protect my brother from your cruelty. Too late to stop you from allowing your men to brutally beat an unarmed and already-injured man . . .” His voice wavered. “Too late to tell my father how sorry I am for not honoring him with the amount of respect he deserved. Respect I so foolishly gave you instead.”
To hear such words almost broke Kyrin’s heart. Under different circumstances, she would have hugged her brother. The General stared at him dumbfounded. Kyrin could only imagine what ran through his mind after grooming Marcus for his position since childhood. She hadn’t missed the way he’d said he raised him. It infuriated her.
Re-gathering his wits, the General spoke icily. “This is your last chance, Marcus. If you stick with them, you’ll be treated as a traitor and face the same consequences. You’ll be shown no mercy. But if you come back with me, I’ll overlook this indiscretion as a foolish act of emotion.”
The ensuing silence was almost deafening, but Marcus broke it with his one, firm word. “No.”
Their grandfather went rigid in the saddle. “You’re making a terrible mistake.”
“Maybe . . . but it feels right to me. The first truly right thing I’ve done in a long time.”
“So be it.” The General motioned, and his men drew their swords. In a commanding voice, he ordered Kyrin and the others, “Drop your weapons or you’ll die here.”
No one moved until Kyrin drew back her bow and had it aimed in a heartbeat. She held it steady, willing her nerves to calm. “I don’t want to shoot you, Grandfather, but I will if any of your men try to take us.”
He locked eyes with her, but there wasn’t a spark of warmth to be found. “You may do that, Kyrin, but it won’t stop all of us.”
He raised his hand. As soon as he gave the signal, the men would charge. Then Kyrin would have to choose. Would she shoot him? Could she? Her gaze jerked to Marcus, and then to Jace and Liam. They didn’t look ready to surrender. What was the right choice? Did they fight and die here, or surrender and die later?
The General’s hand began to drop, and Kyrin sucked in her breath. Her bowstring slipped on her fingers, but before it fully released, a shattering roar rocked the air above them. In a burst of light and heat, a wall of fire appeared between them and the soldiers as a dragon swooped over their heads. The trees rattled with wind gusts as, one by one, dragons landed beside them—Kaden and Exsis first, followed by Ivoris, Gem, and Rayad and his dragon. The horses shrieked, rearing and fighting against their riders, who struggled to keep them from bolting.
By now, the fire had died to small flames and a wide swath of sizzling, charred grass. With a swoosh of wings, a final dragon landed near them, bearing Leetra. Kyrin had never been so relieved to see her.
The crete’s dragon blew out a stream of smoke and growled at the soldiers. Her eyes deep purple with intensity, Leetra glared at them. “I suggest you put those swords away and ride back to wherever you came from.”
Every eye focused on the General. Strangling his horse’s reins, he nodded to the soldiers. With the hiss of metal, they shoved their swords back into their scabbards. The General’s fiery eyes swept Kyrin and the others and landed on Marcus. “Last chance. Are you with me or with them?”
Marcus barely paused. “Them.”
At this, the General’s face changed, growing stone cold as he severed ties with his grandson. Marcus was now the enemy and, as the General had said, there would be no mercy should they meet again.
This reflected in his voice as he ordered, “Back to the fort.”
With one last death glare, he turned his horse. He glanced toward the house, where Lydia stood in the door with the boys, and then rode out with his men.
“All the way to the fort,” Leetra called after them in warning.
Everyone remained still until the echo of hooves faded down the road, and Kyrin’s heart had a chance to calm. She let her arms fall to her sides as the remnants of adrenaline drained from her body. She looked down at her bow, but didn’t want to think about what would have happened had the dragons not shown up when they did.
The riders dismounted. Kyrin put her weapons down and rushed to Kaden. “I was so worried you’d been caught.”
“No, I made it just fine, but Grandfather must have figured out our ploy.”
Kyrin’s attention then shifted to Rayad, who approached Jace with a look of grim concern. He reached for Jace’s shoulder, but held back as if unsure it would cause him pain. “Are you all right?”
Jace nodded. “I will be.”
He held his ribs, but didn’t seem to be in nearly as much pain as before. Still, Kyrin wanted to get him to sit down and rest again. It couldn’t be comfortable or easy for him to stand there and to have had to get up and move so quickly. How did he even have the strength?
“Good,” Rayad breathed. He took in the sight of Jace’s battered face and winced. “Kaden mentioned what happened.”
From her dragon, Leetra spoke up. “I’m going to make sure those soldiers don’t double back and surprise us. I’ll check in with you later.”
Once she had flown off, Kyrin asked Rayad, “What are you two doing here anyway?”
“I had a feeling we shouldn’t have let you come alone and just couldn’t help myself.”
Kyrin smiled at his concern. “Thank Elôm for that. How did you convince Leetra to come?”
“I didn’t. I think she’s feeling guilty because of her relationship with Falcor. She offered to join me, in case there was trouble.”
Leetra had never seemed to be the type to put herself out for others, beyond those of her own race, but Kyrin was truly grateful she’d come to make sure they were all right.
Movement from the house drew their attention. Michael and Ronny stepped outside, followed more tentatively by their mother. Her face was very pale, though Kyrin couldn’t know if it was due to shock from the sight of the dragons or over what had just occurred with the General. However, her expression lifted when she and Kaden saw each other. Kaden glanced briefly at Kyrin, and then started forward to meet his mother and younger brothers with none of Kyrin’s reservations. Kyrin stood with a mix of happiness for him, but sadness for herself.
The others followed slowly behind Kaden, but Marcus didn’t move. Kyrin turned to find him staring off toward the road where the General and his men had gone, a sick look on his face. He’d lost everything—everything he had worked for his entire life; his position, his influence and, perhaps most painful of all, his relationship with his grandfather. He had idolized him since childhood and dreamed of following in his footsteps. Now that future was nothing more than ashes. Kyrin could hardly imagine having worked so hard to achieve something, only to have it destroyed in one devastating blow. She walked to his side and wrapped her hand around his arm. He blinked and looked at her.
“You still have us, and we love you,” she murmured earnestly. “I hope that’s enough.”
“It is,” he said, his voice quiet. He cleared his throat and repeated more firmly, “It is.”
Kyrin gave him a small, understanding smile and stayed at his side as they walked toward the gathering at the house. They were just in time to see Kaden hugging their mother tightly. Regret pinched Kyrin’s heart. This reunion was much different from hers.
When their mother stepped back, tears streaked her cheeks, but it was the first time she smiled since they’d arrived. She cupped Kaden’s face in her hands and remarked on how he’d grown. He grinned at her, completely free of any unpleasant memories to come between them. Kyrin sighed. If only she had been able to forget.
The boys greeted Kaden next with great enthusiasm after their brother’s dramatic entrance with his dragon. This managed to draw out Kyrin’s smile. It was almost as if the boys had known Kaden their whole lives, the way they chattered excitedly.
“Are the dragons dangerous?” Michael asked, followed immediately by Ronny’s hopeful, “Can you take us flying?”
Kaden grinned at them. “They’re only dangerous when we need them to be. As for flying…”he glanced at Lydia, “. . . you’ll have to ask Mother.”
The two boys spun to face her with pleading looks.
“Please, Mother, can we?” Ronny begged.
“We’ll see,” Lydia told him. “First let’s see to breakfast.”
The boys sighed in disappointment, but not Kaden.
“I’m starving,” he said.
Lydia smiled and motioned to the group. “Come inside. Everyone.”
“They rode straight to the fort and didn’t send anyone out while I was watching,” Leetra reported a few hours later as everyone was finishing their second meal of the day. “They probably think we’ve gone by now, or know better than to approach.”
Kyrin didn’t hold back a sigh of relief. Though they had the dragons, it was good to know her grandfather hadn’t gone so far as to gather an army to come after them. She wouldn’t have put it past him, considering the mood he’d been in when he left.
Quiet lingered in the dining room for a moment before Rayad looked at her and Kaden from across the table. “We should probably be going.”
Lydia spoke up, reluctance in her expression, but her tone genuine. “If you need lodging for the night, we have room.”
Kyrin never would have expected her to make such an offer, but her mother truly seemed to be trying to make amends.
Rayad smiled kindly. “Thank you, but I’m not sure it would be wise for you to offer us such hospitality. The last thing we want is to cause you further trouble.”
“He’s right,” Kyrin said, though it hurt her to have to leave so soon. “We’ve probably stayed longer than we should have already.”
“Do you have to go?” Ronny asked sadly.
Kyrin gave him a remorseful look. “I’m afraid so.”
Her little brother let out a heavy sigh. Kyrin felt the same. The longer she stayed, the more she wished they didn’t have to leave. A part of her heart had remained here when she’d left for Tarvin Hall, and it would still be here when she left again. One morning wasn’t enough to satisfy the longing she’d carried with her all these years. Her eyes traveled around the table, committing the sight to memory. Today had been the first time she and all five of her brothers had sat at this table—the first time in many years their family had been nearly complete. But it wouldn’t ever be truly complete again.
Kyrin fought to force those thoughts away. She was grateful for the distraction when Marcus rose and said, “I’m going to gather some of my things.”
Liam followed him. A moment later, Kaden, too, pushed back his chair.
“I’m going to step out for a few minutes,” he murmured.
Kyrin looked up at him. All morning he’d been full of joy— interacting with his brothers, smiling, laughing. It had done Kyrin good to see it after the week they’d faced, but seriousness had returned to his eyes now. The grief they both still struggled with could only be temporarily laid aside. It was time to face it once more.
She watched him leave, and rested back in her chair as she stared at her lap and prayed for both him and herself. She wanted to go out with him, but he needed time like she’d had—time to mourn and say whatever things he might want to say.
“Are you a crete?”
Michael’s voice brought Kyrin’s attention once more to those around her. Both her younger brothers stared at Leetra, who stood near the door, curiosity sparkling in their eyes. This was much better than their sadness. They were clearly enamored with the girl. Kyrin had grown used to cretes, but she hadn’t forgotten how foreign they looked at first. And Leetra, with her dark hair and lavender eyes, was particularly striking now that Kyrin thought about it, especially to two young boys.
“I am,” Leetra answered in her usual direct way, though Kyrin sensed a subtle change—a softening—about her.
“We’ve never seen a crete before,” Michael said.
Leetra gave a shrug. “My people don’t have many dealings with Arcacia anymore.”
The boys went on to ask her all kinds of questions about the cretes and where they lived. Leetra was surprisingly patient with them, and Kyrin’s respect for her grew a little.
Kyrin listened for several minutes before leaving the table and slipping from the room. In the hall, she pulled on her coat and let herself outside, where she leaned against the door for a moment and stared at Kaden, who stood at the grave. An invisible cord wrapped tightly around her chest. She wanted to be strong for him, the way he always was for her, and gathered her fortitude. With a prayer for strength, she crossed the yard. When he heard her coming, he glanced over his shoulder. His cheeks were wet, and he wiped them with his sleeve. They stood side by side in silence for a minute until Kaden found the voice to speak.
“There were so many things I wanted to tell him. So many things I wanted to ask him . . . about being a man.”
“I know.”
His jaw clamped, and his throa
t worked, but he didn’t say anything again for a few moments. “You’re lucky, you know. You’ll always have the memories.”
The words stunned Kyrin at first. She was so used to her abilities that she hadn’t considered Kaden’s memories of their father fading with time. The thought pierced her heart with deep sadness. Her eyes filled, and she reached out to squeeze his arm.
“I’ll help you remember.”
Goodbye came quickly. After preparing the dragons, and saying farewell to Carl, Kyrin and Kaden gathered with their mother and brothers near the house. The awkwardness between Kyrin and her mother lingered as they faced each other.
Fiddling with her cuff, Kyrin struggled to look her in the eye. “Thank you for letting us stay this morning . . . and especially for helping with Jace.” She cleared her throat. “I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome,” Lydia responded quietly.
They held each other’s gaze for a moment of silence, and Kyrin saw all the unsaid things her mother held inside—same as she did. Neither one seemed to know how to say them.
Her mother held a small pouch out to her. “More herbs for Jace. He can take some tonight so he can sleep, and then once a day for a couple of days if he needs the relief. After that, they should only be taken occasionally.”
Kyrin squeezed the pouch in her fingers. That her mother would do this for Jace weakened her grip on her emotions. She tucked the pouch into her pocket. “Thank you.”
Another silence followed before Kyrin worked her tongue loose. “Goodbye, Mother.”
Lydia’s eyes turned a little misty. “Goodbye, Kyrin.” The longing in her gaze was evident. She slowly reached out, and Kyrin accepted a hug.
Her nose stung, and she blinked hard as her mother’s arms wrapped around her. She wanted her mother’s love so much—she truly did—but fear of being hurt again still clung to her. Though she’d lowered her defenses a little, it wasn’t complete. Not yet.
Clearing her throat again, she stepped away and turned to her brothers, but then stopped. She turned back to her mother. “If you ever need us, go to Landale. Follow the main road heading north from the village. A mile into the forest is an old oak tree bigger than any other trees around it. In one of the branches over the road is a red rope. Wait there. Someone will find you.”